Of Borat, America, anti-Semitism, Israel, ADL, and Kazakhstan

Israel News Agency ^ | January 16, 2007 | Joel Leyden

[stm]

Borat is an absolute scream. That movie was one of the funniest I have ever seen.

[Hildy]

We finally saw it last week. We rented it in a hotel room. We turned it off in about 25 minutes. I'm sorry, I didn't find it funny, outrageous? yes. Funny. No.

I was sad. I was sad that this is what people find humorous today.

[whitedog57]

Thanks for the lecture. If you believe in the freedom that our country bestows, Cohen et al want to demean us "expose our prejudice."

I really detest being lumped in with everyone else. Isn't that stereotyping and bigotry?

Oh, I forgot. He is a socialist. Its therefore OK to be bigoted and stereotype everyone - because its in "a good cause."

[Sherman Logan]

But one remark which was recently posted openly (on FR) to me stands out in my mind: "I value the lives of American servicemen much more than innocent Israelis who die from terrorism."

My open response in that forum was that the remark was racist. It was not American. It was not Israeli. It was plainly anti-Semitic.

The man is an idiot. The poster he considers anti-semitic might equally well value American soldiers' lives over the lives of Brits, Argentinians, and Rwandans, indeed over anybody not American.

[IsraelBeach]

Exposing one's prejudice is productive in any free democracy. To say that prejudice does not exist or to bury it is to say: "see no evil, hear no evil, do no evil."

That is not what America is about. And for that reason, Borat is a success.

[lesser_satan]

bump for later

[elc]

SBC's acceptance speech last night at the Golden Globes was hilarious.

I got really sick of him after watching D Ali G Show, but I think I might have to give in and see Borat.

[Damifino]

...he fired one warning shot in the air, which apparently hit two of the mob, later resulting in the death of one.

I think there may be an incongruity here... I'm just able to sort it out. Is there a 3 year-old in the crowd that can help a writer out?

[IsraelBeach]

The man is an idiot.

I agree. Having been a member of FreeRepublic for many years I can say for certain that the vast majority of Freepers are intelligent, honest, brave and respect other races and religions.

[lesser_satan]

I didn't get that either. If an Israeli, Brit, or anybody else said they value the lives of their troops more than those of American civilians, I wouldn't say that's an anti-American attitude.

[Sherman Logan]

I wouldn't be offended if an Israeli valued the lives of other Isralis over those of Americans. That's just tribalism, not anti-anything.

[Kellis91789]

I've avoided it like the plague.

Not my brand of humor.

[ExtremeUnction]

I was sad. I was sad that this is what people find humorous today.

Sometimes my wife and I enjoy watching a movie that makes us laugh. That's all we are looking for. We loved Borat, The 40 Year-Old Virgin, and Dumb and Dumber. Funny stuff!!!

[juliej]

I loved the film - I took my son and his friends to see it and they were laughing so heard that spat out their drinks. The ADL has turned into a silly poltically correct organization and an arm of the Democratic party. Don't start me on that!

[Peter Libra]

Oh, I forgot. He is a socialist. Its therefore OK to be bigoted and stereotype everyone.....

Free speech forever, for those of us supporting your sentiments. Plus the Orwellian overtones accompanying his performance. "What! how dare anyone NOT find this man funny? " Ergo, we find him funny, so better had you.

S'funny, Some people found Abbott and Costello absolutely hilarious. Some do not. Does anyone get mad, just because "Haaaay Yaaabott", does not seem funny? I still laugh at the old black and white classics. My favourite is "Buck Privates". Also renamed "The Rookies" for British consumption.

[Xenalyte]

I haven't seen it yet and cannot wait! What I've seen of Ali G (and Borat and Bruno) is just hilarious.

[reagan_fanatic]

That movie was one of the funniest I have ever seen

Agreed. I had tears running down my cheeks in the theatre. *HOWEVER* - the scene in the motel room about caused me to puke. They could have left that part on the cutting room floor as far as I'm concerned.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Why is so much information repeated in this too long article?

My impression of Cohen is that, like Howard Stern, he has contempt for society and his audience.

[DManA]

Thanks so much for that. Can't have too many buckets of slime poured on our heads. But you know Cohen, there are 300 million people in this country so finding some who believes any stupid thing you can think of isn't all that difficult. Putz.

But Cohen's true agenda was to unmask American arrogance, ignorance and prejudice.